Holy Smoke: Catholic Cardinals Choose New Pope

5:09 pm: John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter describes Pope Francis as “unwaveringly orthodox on matters of sexual morality.”

Bergoglio is seen an unwaveringly orthodox on matters of sexual morality, staunchly opposing abortion, same-sex marriage, and contraception. In 2010 he asserted that gay adoption is a form of discrimination against children.

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4:52 pm: Fox News’ Ed Henry is reporting that Vice President Biden will travel to Rome of the “official installation of Pope Francis.”

But the no- Pope Francis became one of the leading voice against the bill in the country. As Cardinal of Buenos Aries, Francis helped organize protests against the same-sex marriage bill.

“Let’s not be naive, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God,” Francis wrote. “We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.”

Fernandez, a Roman Catholic herself, shot back, saying his remarks were “really reminiscent of the times of the Inquisition.”

4:19 pm: The new Pope described same-sex marriage as “a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.” H/t: Erick Erickson

4:09 pm: It’s important to keep in mind that there is a second St. Francis, Xavier. Which Francis our new Pope had in mind when choosing his name is still unknown. One possibility is both.

4:08 pm: CNN reports that Pope Francis washed the feet of AIDS sufferers in a hospital. This act of humility was meant to show compassion for the humanity of homosexuals.

3:55 pm: For now the media is excited we have a Pope from Latin America and our first Jesuit. Here in America, Jesuits are seen as liberal on a lot of the issues the media holds dear — you know, issues that would ensure the Catholic Church stops being the Catholic Church. Look for the media enthusiasm over Francis to ebb as they learn how conservative and traditionalist he is.

3:48 pm: CNN is reporting that Pope Francis is already scheduled to visit World Youth Day in Rio De Janeiro this summer. The first Latin American Pope is going to Latin America.

3:38 pm: According to Wikipedia,our new Pope opposes abortion and euthanasia, and strongly opposed same-sex marriage. He also opposes gays adopting children:

He has affirmed church teaching on homosexuality, though he teaches the importance of respecting individuals who are homosexual. He strongly opposed legislation introduced in 2010 by the Argentine Government to allow same-sex marriage, calling it a “real and dire anthropological throwback”. In a letter to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, he wrote: “Let’s not be naive, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.” He has also insisted that adoption by homosexuals is a form of discrimination against children.

UPDATE: The Miami Times has more on the Pope’s stand against same-sex marriage and his battles with Argentine government.

UPDATE: Business Insider has more on the Pope’s opposition to gay adoption.

3:31 pm: The assumption is that our first Jesuit Pope choosing the name Francis is a nod to St. Francis.

3:29 pm: The choice of Francis proves once again that the media is wrong about almost everything.

3:28 pm: Numerous reports claim Francis was second in the ballots at the last conclave.

3:27 pm: Pope Francis I greets the faithful at Vatican Square and leads a prayer for Benedict, Pope Emeritus.

3:15 pm: Our new Pope is 76-year-old Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, who has taken the Papal name of Francis I. Our first Pope from Latin America.

***Note: This post will be continuously updated as news is released…. Live feed of Vatican-cam below….

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3:11 pm: In the thirty-minutes since the sighting of white smoke, CNN and MSNBC have asked more questions about the Vatican bank than they have about what happened in Benghazi.

In 2005, the Italian cardinal, then the patriarch of Venice, one of the Roman Catholic Church’s more prolific pope-producing cities, appeared on many shortlists to succeed Pope John Paul II. The job, of course, went to Scola’s good friend, theological mentor and career patron, Joseph Ratzinger, who took the name Benedict XVI. As the new pope began his reign, papal pundits determined that Scola, then 65, had perhaps been too young .

Once the election concludes, the Cardinal Dean summons the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations into the hall. The Cardinal Dean then asks the Pope-elect if he assents to the election, saying in Latin: “Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem? (Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?).” There is no requirement that the Pope-elect do so: he is free to say “non accepto” (I don’t accept). …

Later, the new Pope goes to the “Room of Tears”, a small red room next to the Sistine Chapel. The origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to imply the commixture of joy and sorrow felt by the newly chosen holder of the monumental office.[citation needed] The Pope dresses by himself, choosing a set of pontifical choir robes (white cassock, rochet and red mozzetta) among three sizes: small, medium and large. Then, he vests in a gold corded pectoral cross and a red embroidered stole. He wears a white zuchetto on his head.

Next, the senior Cardinal Deacon (the Cardinal Protodeacon) appears at the main balcony of the basilica’s façade to proclaim the new pope with the Latin phrase:

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:
Habemus Papam!
Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum [forename],
Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem [surname],
qui sibi nomen imposuit [papal name].
(“I announce to you a great joy:
We have a Pope!
The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord,
Lord [forename],
Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname],
who takes to himself the name [papal name].”)

2:45 pm: What a great day to be a Catholic. It is especially wonderful that all of this is happening during the Holy Seaon of Lent; that it’s adding to this time, not distracting from it.

2:37 pm: On a personal note, this is my first experience with the election of a new Pope since officially converting to Catholicism three years ago. My affection for Benedict makes this a bittersweet moment, which I’m sure many of my fellow Roman Catholics feel. What overwhelms everything, though, is the fact that we’re talking about a direct successor to St. Peter, one of the original Apostles who walked with Jesus Christ.

2:35 pm: Over at MSNBC, Chris Matthews is railing against the Church for, well, he seems upset at the idea that the new Pope might be Catholic.

2:29 pm: CNN’s second interview was with a man desperate to see modern reform in the Church. Apparently, CNN is unable to find anyone in that massive crowd who are happy with the Church.

2:20 pm: CNN’s first crowd interview after the smoke announcement was with a group of feminists upset at the Church for not allowing women to be priest. They brought their own pink smoke.

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We should know by noon ET who the new Pope is.

After about a day and a half, the Conclave of Cardinals released the white smoke at 7:09 pm today Vatican time. And with that puff of Holy Smoke went all those media narratives being teed up to attack and criticize the Catholic Church as “divided.”